Monday's Workout

No strength skills practice today -- it's metcon week. And today's was a little slice of hell.

5 rounds for time:

• Row 500 meters
• Run 400 meters

The erg is my nemesis. I hate it. But even more than that, I hate the fact that my rowing technique is utter crap. I know better than to try to pull faster -- it's draining and inefficient -- but I do it anyway. Every time I row, it's like my brain seizes up. Abject fear can do that to you, I guess.

After the first round, I was already exhausted from spinning that damned flywheel, but I was comforted by the fact that I wasn't too far behind the speediest of my classmates. But by the end of my second stint on the erg, I was really lagging. And the last time I stumbled off the erg, I had trouble getting to my feet.

Result: It took me 22:30 to finish, and it wasn't pretty.

But you know what? Before most people had rolled out of bed this morning, I managed to row 2,500 meters and run 2,000 meters as fast as my stumpy legs could take me -- and I didn't wind up unconscious on my couch for the rest of the day. I call that victory.